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Friday, October 28, 2005

Ah! Colorful Beautiful Creatures - Wait, You Got to be Certified to Scuba Dive. Make Motivation Stick.

Scuba Diving is one wonderful relaxing out of the world experience. How many hours have you seen the best camera footage in Discovery and national geographic and wondered what would it be like to be there physically? Atleast for me the TV time amounts roughly to 200 hours an year. Let me give an analogy for the experience you get. Have you had the relaxing 3 hours in a private beach with a towel on your eyes facing the mild sun and warm breeze in a tropical back-drop? How was it? Did you forget all the worries on the world, Scuba Diving just offers the same experience but just 10 times more rewarding? What makes this a more exciting "hobby" is the number of diving sites in the world. And the endless unique aquatic life each site has. It is never boring and in a while you may decide you are born in this world just for this. I have heard a lot of stories where people who started this as a pass-time have ended up in full time conservation and preservation efforts. Some others are documenting the different creatures and getting paid for the same. If you have photography skills the possibilities are endless.

There are a few folks who don't prepare for stuff they are going to do and end in helpless situation. Folks take their kids and family with the assumption if you know how to swim you can scuba dive. Well you are dealing with diving at good depths. This is high pressure game; you got to be in good health and should be physically fit for this experience. Along with that you should exhibit your sufficient knowledge to operate the scuba diving equipments. You are going to carry new equipments at places where the time to react is counted in seconds. So you will not be permitted to dive unless you hold the certification. This is done for your own safety. The certification process is a wonderful experience itself. You have a learning session and then a few pool sessions. At the end you should pass monitored some diving sessions. The whole process sometimes takes just 3 weekends. For people with a week you can learn a lot about scuba diving and get certified in just this one week.

There are many places where you can get certified and start this out of the world experience. You start out learning about the equipment and study materials. This sometimes could be done online mostly. The next phase is pool sessions with certified instructors. The next phase is the real diving tests. There may be many phases or sessions based on where you join and your requirements. Get certified; dive down to depths to get high on a rewarding experience. Don't miss out on this interesting, rewarding and good experience.

To find more resources for getting certified and buying or renting scuba diving equipment visit scubaduba.com.

Author is a master freelancer in the no fee free Freelance website freelancefree.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



Motivation is the elusive elixir. Not only does it help people do good work, and do it faster, but it also helps them feel good about it while they're doing it. Yet motivation always seems temporary, fleeting. We call a meeting, bring in a motivational speaker, and fire up the team. Yet, we know it won't last.

What if we could make it last? What if we could make it easy for everyone on your team to stay motivated day in and day out, regardless of what was going on around them? You could expect higher levels of performance from everyone and create a team with an unstoppable can-do attitude.

Despite its elusive nature, motivation is rather simple to understand. Motivation can be defined as a concerted effort to produce a desired result. So let's think about that for a moment. Why would anyone make a concerted effort to produce a result?

Underlying all motivation must be a belief that winning is possible, that the result is attainable. When people stop believing that they can win, that they have little chance for success, their efforts directed at achieving that success fade. However, people can remain motivated day after day when they are playing a game they believe they can win.

Motivation can be made a permanent part of your organization's environment when you provide the three keys that will allow your team members to believe that they can win, that they are unstoppable.

What's the Plan?

The first key is a strategy. A strategy is a best-guess plan that expedites the accomplishment of desired goals. Motivation depends on having a clear path to accomplishing a desired result. It's OK if every detail is not in place and a few variables exist, but the path to success must not be shrouded in fog. However, the plan must be complete enough to permit the belief in a successful end result.

When the plan is in doubt, motivation is ruled out.

While desire is a powerful motivator, so is anger. When Osama bin Laden was linked to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the wrath of angry Americans was focused on him. Emotions were high, and it would have been easy to fill an airplane bound for Afghanistan to hunt him down.

If you were on that plane, imagine how your excitement and motivation would soon fade when you learned that the "plan" was to drop you into Afghanistan and let you figure out how to find Osama. Without a clear path for getting past the enemy and finding bin Laden, your early determination would soon turn to despair. We all need a plan that we believe can work.

It's Tool Time!

The second key to motivation is tools. To stay motivated, individuals must believe that they have access to the tools they need to execute the plan. No matter how wonderful the plan, excitement will fade as soon as people discover that resources are inadequate to permit delivery of the goods.

This is the common de-motivator present in the "do more with less" admonition. Expectations of employees are raised and more is expected while resources are systematically removed. Left to their own cleverness, employees can often find ways to get more done with fewer resources if they are allowed to substitute a more productive resource for a more costly one. Unfortunately these "do more with less" initiatives often remove tools and resources without permitting for their replacement by the necessary cost efficient tools to get the higher expectations accomplished.

When tools don't exist, motivation is at risk.

Let's go back to Afghanistan. I'm betting you'd like some tools, and I'm not talking about a shovel or nice power saw. A gun would be good for starters. And bullets. While we're making a list, let's add grenades, two-way radio, Kevlar vest, and a rocket launcher. Oh, food and a canteen would be really good. And a map to get us back home.

"Do more with less" rings hollow when the stakes are high, like when your life is on the line. Make sure your team has the proper tools to tackle the tasks ahead of them and dispatch them productively and with confidence.

No Training? No Can-Do!

The third key to maintaining motivation is skills. Individuals must be trained on the skills that allow them to use the tools in the context of execution of the plan. It's not enough to have the resources if their application is left to question.

Skills training still may not accomplish the desired result if it is delivered outside of the context of the plan. A hammer can be used for both driving nails and pulling them out, and it's important to know what needs to be accomplished so that its application supports our desired outcome.

Without skills and training, motivation will be waning.

Forget the guns, Kevlar, and rocket launcher for a moment. Let's suppose we drop you into a tank, such as the magnificently sophisticated Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Without training on how to operate it, you'd be a sitting duck. Maybe you could figure out how to operate it, but possibly at great danger to yourself. What if you loaded the cannon improperly and caused a misfire? How far could you drive without running out of fuel in enemy territory?

At least the tank is firmly planted on solid ground. If put behind the controls of an Apache helicopter without adequate training, the risk to you goes through the roof! Without proper training, motivation is quickly replaced by frustration and fear.

The same things happen every day in workplaces all around us. People show up to work in the morning without a clear idea of how they contribute to the big picture, and without the tools and training to get the job done. Deliver the keys of strategy, tools, and skills, and your people will understand where they're going and how they're going to get there. Those keys will maintain motivation, excitement and enthusiasm by establishing confidence. They assure a successful outcome and are reason enough for employees to stay engaged and fervently work toward the big, bodacious goal you're ultimately after.

With the keys of strategy, tools, and skills, making motivation stick won't seem so elusive after all.

© 2004 Paul Johnson. All rights reserved.

Note: This article is available for reprint at no charge. We only ask that you include our copyright notice in your reprint, along with the About the Author (byline) information we provide at the end of the article.

Paul Johnson of Panache and Systems LLC consults and speaks on business strategy for systematically boosting sales performance using Shortcuts to Yes(tm). Check out more salesforce development tips at http://panache-yes.com/tips.html. Call Paul direct in Atlanta, Georgia, USA at (770) 271-7719.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



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Thursday, October 27, 2005

Fire in the Ice: Book Review. West Highland Terrier Rescue Dog - What To Expect When You Bring It Home.

"

An excellent novel that will wring tears of frustration and pain and then tears of joy from the reader.'Fire in the Ice' is a perfect title for this book.

The passion, confusion and anger that the main character (Deedra) felt, along with her pain over the loss of her parents and the death of her young husband caused her to cover her heart, lock it away and live only through a deep survival mode. (Thus the "Ice".) Encountering Josh, she became filled with fear at what could be her first experiences with real love and true passion and she nearly loathed him for disrupting her carefully constructed world.

However, Deedra was not along in her fear of feeling - Josh too lived through a horrendous relationship that left him wary of commitment. Her constant rebuttal was hard on Josh, who was used to getting what he wanted, but his persistence and love released her from her own prison and helped Deedra realize that she had never really lived at all - but only existed. None of Deedra's journey through her Self was possible without the loyal support of her dear friend, Marcy.

This romance novel had some very steamy parts (the "Fire") that, though not over-used, were certainly so well written that this shy reviewer was blushing furiously while reading them - much to the amusement of my husband!

Katlyn Stewart has done an excellent job pulling the reader into the lives of her characters and feeling their pain and elation. I would not hesitate to pick up another title authored by Katlyn."

Publisher: Publish America, Inc.
ISBN#: 141373278X
Author: Katlyn Stewart

~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment �½ Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry.
http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



Congratulations on your choice to bring home a West Highland Terrier rescue dog. By electing to adopt one of the rescued Westies, you are giving an older dog a chance to find a loving new home

In many ways, this is simpler than going through the arduous process of training a westie terrier puppy. However, there still are steps you will need to take.

Westies that have found their way into rescue shelters sometimes have special needs, if only an owner who is patient and understanding of the way the dog might grieve for its previous family. People who volunteer keep the dog's needs foremost, and are choosy about the homes in which they place rescued terriers. Expect an application process, an interview, and probably a home visit before you will be approved to take home a dog.

Westie rescue organizations need funds to pay for food and veterinary care while the dogs are waiting for placement, so most charge an adoption fee to cover these expenses. Additionally, you will be required to have the dog spayed or neutered, if it has not already been.

Many perfectly behaved Westies find their way into rescue. However, the stress of change, long stays in kennels, and grief at the loss of an owner, may make even the best Westie forget some of its good habits. Do not allow your adopted Westie dog to behave badly because you feel sorry for it.

West Highland White Terriers, and all dogs, crave routine. Establish a firm, consistent discipline and habits with new dog from the moment it arrives in your home, just as you would with a puppy. At the very least, you will need to train your Westie into your expectations, and out of his old ones. Do this gradually, to avoid causing even more stress.

Adopted dogs that have been abused or neglected may need continued veterinary care. If you are willing to take on the extra commitment of caring for this kind of dog, you should be prepared for the extra expense and lingering health problems. Find your veterinarian right away, and keep in close contact with him or her.

After your Westie is settled into your home, you may still expect at least one last home visit from the organization that provided your dog. Westie rescuers are determined that the terriers will be well placed. In many cases, you can turn to them for advice that will help make the adoption process a joy for both you and your dog.

(Disclaimer: Any information contained in this site relating to various medical, health and fitness conditions of Westies or other animals and their treatments is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own veterinarian. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing the health of any animal. You should always consult and check with your own vet or veterinarian.)

I do hope that you have found the article of use to you.

Jeff Cuckson webmaster@madaboutwesties.com

Want To Know How To Have The Healthiest, Happiest and Most Well Behaved Westie You Have Ever Dreamed Of! Then Visit NOW! http://www.madaboutwesties.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



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Tuesday, October 25, 2005

A Woman's Road To True Beauty. You're Not Paranoid: The House Really Hates You.

We live in a world where society dictates the norm. In today's society, beauty becomes so stringent that many women develop distorted views of body images and become frustrated at not being able to obtain the "ideal figure." Some women are so dissatisfied with their body size that they are driven to become thin and maintain that thinness, sometimes to the detriment of their health. Some women diet in order to increase their self-confidence, make a partner happy or to fit into the perceived model look hype that is so often seen on television. In some respect dieting trends reflect the cultural norms that say that women who eat less are considered to be more feminine and more beautiful. Women spend thousands on surgery to change their features or gain the nose, eyes, and mouth of their favorite celebrity.

Society's belief on what a female should look like play a significant role on how we as women view ourselves. During the teen years, women deal with two responsibilities: intimacy and identity. How they handle this period in life will have a major impact on their self-esteem, mind, body and spirit. Let us not forget that beauty is not physical appearance but, self-esteem, and humility. It is not what you see outside, but what you discover within, such as a kind heart that counts.

As women we need to be empowered with skills, knowledge, and confidence so we can challenge the entrenched structures that tend to hamper us. We should become aware and responsive to our potential and seek to continuously create and be positive role models to others. In short, we should learn to speak with strength, authority and knowledge and not place our self-esteem in the hands of others who would make money on our insecurities

Ms. Lewis is President and CEO of The Deline Institute for Professional Development, a training organization that provides workshops and seminars geared toward professional businesswomen. Ms. Lewis is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. She is an Adjunct Professor at National-Louis University, where she teaches Human Resource Management. Ms. Lewis has conducted training for the Federal government on Diversity, as well as EEO regulations and guidelines. Ms. Lewis is a certified trainer with the Professional Women Network, specializing in the area of Diversity with an emphasis in Women's Issues. Ms. Lewis is a member of the Professional Woman Network and Professional Woman Speakers Bureau; the National Association of Female Executives; The African American Federal Executive Association and Federally Employed Women. Ms. Lewis' knowledge of business and professionalism is supported by 21 years of work experience in the military and 18 years of continuous work experience as a civilian with the Federal government. (Email sioc@aol.com)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



If you've just bought a house, you may be able to relate to a fascinating essay in Maya Angelou's book, Even the Stars Look Lonesome.

When Ms. Angelou moved into a designer house in California, she says, nothing worked. Her pictures didn't look right on the walls. Cakes fell in the oven and curtains fell off the rods.

The house, she concluded, hated her. And it wasn't much consolation to realize the house hated her husband, too.

What I want to know is, how could she tell?

Let's face it, most houses hate their new owners. They have adapted to the rhythm of one family and resent being sold.

Like most cats that you rescue from the pound, your house probably believes, "If I'd waited awhile, a better owner would have come along. So I'm going to make this one's life miserable."

When you move

Those who are trained in modern research methods will be skeptical, but there's plenty of evidence. Everyone knows what happens when you move into a new house.

"You'll see a lot of repair services in the first six months," I was warned. "When a house hasn't changed hands in five years or more, lots of little things will happen when you move in."

Now, you'll notice this doesn't happen when you rent a house or apartment. Some friends of mine rented a house while they saved to buy their own property.

For two years, the refrigerator purred and the air conditioner hummed contentedly.

The plumbing flowed silently and the insect life remained hidden. Encouraged ("see, a house isn't so bad after all!") they took the plunge and bought their own home.

I'd like to say they're doing great but in fact they've dropped out of sight. They can't take phone calls any more. "Sorry, we can't tie up this line. We're holding the phone open till we hear from the handyman..." Or the pest control guy, or the electrician. They considered Call Waiting but were afraid to jinx the only object in the house that seemed to be working.

If you seem particularly gullible, (e.g., the house senses that you're new to this game), your appliances may join the fun. I am absolutely positive the once-faithful refrigerator sent out a message: "How about this, guys. Let's really confuse everybody. I'll put out a leak, send the water over to the sink, and they'll think it's a big pipe in the wall. After they've poked a few holes they'll realize it's time to wake up that sleeping repairman!"

And one day my security system kept getting an "Open Door" signal even when the door was firmly locked. The tech found nothing wrong and it never happened again.

My lawn service person knew how to work the system: Let Them Know Who's Boss. After he cut back the hedges and pulled some over-aggressive vines, the bushes stopped sulking and started putting out nice flowers. They knew what would happen if they didn't.

Making Peace with the House

Soon you've emptied your bank account to create a peace offering -- a new floor or a paint job or a screen door. "Every so often," I'm told, "you even get thirty days with no service calls. But after six months or so, the house gets bored and it'll start all over again."

One thing is certain. In your house's "Lose the Owner" contest, there's one simple rule. Whoever costs the most, wins.

For serious advice about moving, download Making the Big Move.

About The Author

Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.

"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com

Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



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Discover the Designer Within
Discover the Designer Within

Limperts Academy of Design, an international awarding body for design courses, is launching its biggest ever promotional campaign this autumn, aiming to raise public awareness about the possibilities of professional design.

With the help of television advertisements airing this September on satellite television and in cinemas, Limperts Academy hopes to tap undiscovered design talent and give people with creative flair the skills and confidence to turn this into a new career. Limperts Academy Principal Maria Flynn believes that many feel apprehensive about taking on a professional design course because they see it as too difficult, too expensive or impossible to fit in with their current schedule. According to Maria, however, &The Limperts Academy courses can all be taken by home study, so you can study at a time and place that suits you. The courses are open to everyone, anywhere in the world, no matter what their background or experience.'

Limperts Academy courses include Interior Design, Landscape & Garden Design and Image & Fashion Styling, with levels ranging from foundation courses up to degrees. The only entry requirement for all courses is a genuine passion for design. This is a significant departure from traditional design education, which has tended to be very expensive, and available only to those who can commit to full-time, on-campus study. To put a personal face on the campaign, Limperts Academy is inviting anyone interested in design to come along and meet the team at their first London Open Day on Saturday October 1st. The event will be held at the Conrad Hotel in Chelsea Harbour, from 9am until 6pm. This will be an excellent opportunity to have any questions answered, to meet past students and to find out if a home-study design course is the right option for them. There will also be an exhibition of work from past students' portfolios, demonstrating some of the skills people can expect to learn from these courses. With the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre just next door, and trendy boutiques of King's Road only a few minutes walk away, this promises to be a great day out for any design enthusiast.

For more information on the London Open Day, or on Limperts Academy of Design courses, call 0207 849 6513 or email info@limpertsacademy.com.

Limperts Academy of Design is a leading awarding body offering home-study courses that are recognised internationally. All Limperts Academy courses incorporate full online support, detailed feedback and personal tutoring. Courses offered include Interior Design, Garden Design, Fashion Styling and Image Consultancy.

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Monday, October 24, 2005

Powerbreathe, Lung Conditioner, and Breathing Exerciser. Party Games That Make You Laugh.

What is The Powerbreathe?

POWERbreathe is the result of nearly a decade of research, and was designed by professional exercise scientists at Birmingham University and Loughborough University, UK. There are three models designed for specific uses: Wellness, Fitness and Sports Performance.

POWERbreathe, a hand-held inspiratory muscle trainer is a unique, simple-to-use, drug free product designed to help maximise sports performance, improve fitness and reduce breathlessness. It uses the basic principles of resistance training, with adjustable load which caters for all capabilities and permits progressive training.

'Dumb-bells for your lungs'

Just as you might use weights to strengthen your arm muscles, breathing in through POWERbreathe for a few minutes twice daily, makes your inspiratory muscles work harder - thereby increasing their strength and endurance. It is an easy-to-use, drug-free, hand-held device with a comfortable mouthpiece. Within a few days your inspiratory muscles will feel stronger and within four weeks your lung function, and ultimately performance, will improve.

Fitness Powerbreathe

This version of the Powerbreathe is ideal for recreationally active individuals, helps improve fitness levels, makes breathing feel easier during exercise.

"My experience as a sport scientist and respiratory physiologist has demonstrated that good (comfortable) breathing technique is only possible if your breathing muscles are in good shape. Our research has shown that training with POWERbreathe gives breathing 'power and reserve', making a workout more comfortable and enjoyable" - Dr Alison McConnell

Sports Performance Powerbreathe

This version

of the Powerbreathe is an essential aid for athletes looking for a competitive edge, proven to enhance performance by 30%, used as a warm up aid, boosts inpirational muscle performance.

"My research over the past decade has convinced me that the work associated with breathing limits athletic performance. Athletes who want to maximise their performance should address their breathing specifically, because their normal training fails to do so. Our research shows that training with POWERbreathe increases the power and endurance of breathing and improves athletic performance significantly" - Dr Alison McConnell

Wellness Powerbreathe

This version of the Powerbreathe alleviates the symptoms of asthma, reduces breathlessness, relieves symptoms of emphysema and bronchitis.

"Breathing problems due to illness, or simply getting older, can become a barrier to doing the things we used to enjoy. Our research has shown that

using the POWERbreathe restores breathing power and reduces breathlessness in those with conditions such as asthma or emphysema" - Dr Alison McConnell

http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk/search/?search=powerbreathe

Copyright © 2005 Tzaf Barak
http://www.livingiseasy.co.uk
Info@livingiseasy.co.uk
02074831991

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



Party Games That Make You Laugh

A couple of years ago as one of our family parties wound down, one of my mother's friends said, "What a wonderful party - it's so wonderful to laugh. We don't laugh enough these days, don't you think? "

Our family parties are, well, different than most other parties. The main difference between our parties and other parties is - party games. We have a large repetoire of partty games that make us laugh. Here are some of my favourites.

Plum plum plum

Plum plum plum is noisy and boistrous - the way a party game should be. You need about ten people for this, sitting in a circle with one person in the middle.

Starting with the youngest player, each player in the circle chooses a different fruit.

The object of the game is for the person in the middle to point at one of the people sitting down and say the name of their fruit three times before that person says the name of their fruit just once. It doesn't matter who is being looked at - it's who is being pointed at that has to answer with their fruit.

If the person in the middle wins, they and the person they beat swap places - but the name of the fruit stays attached to that position. (So after a while nobody will be in their original positions and everyone will have to remember new fruit.)

Note - you might want to ban really long (over three syllable) names; my father once chose "pomegranite" and we never managed to shift him.

The name game

This one is a little more sedate than Plm Plum Plum...

To start this game ask everyone to think of a character or person - it could be someone famous, it could even be someone in the room. Then you should go outside, and each person should come to you one at a time and tell you the names they have chosen.

Once you have made a note of all the names, read them out to everyone. Then read them out again - and then the game begins. (By the way, you don't play the game as you know who everyone is.)

Pick someone to start. That person choose a player and says, "Shirley, I think you are Darth Vader" (or whichever name they think that Shirley has chosen). If that player is wrong and Shirley isn't Darth Vader, then it's Shirley's turn to try and guess who someone is.

When someone is correctly guessed, that person is out, and the person who guessed correctly gets another go. The game ends when there is only one person left - the winner!

The trick to playing this game is first choosing an unexpected name (one that isn't normally associated with you) and then remembering the names on the list (as it is easy to forget after you've been playing for a few minutes).

Catalogue Charades

I'm sure you have played traditional charades, the game where you mime out the title of a book, movie or television programme. Well, we find that they're a little too easy...

We play this with one person setting the charades for two teams to work their way through. We normally use the same list, jumbled up so that they aren't miming the same thing at the same time.

As for what we get our willing volunteers to mime - we pick item from a hardware catalogue. So instead of trying to mime "Wind in the Willows", they are miming "Cordless power screwdriver" or "Claw hammer with non-slip handle".

For a more sedate version of this game, you can play this with pen and paper instead of miming.

Who am I?

We quite often play this one as an icebreaker.

This game requires a little bit of preparation. First, get some stickers (Post-It notes aren't really robust enough but sticky address labels are ideal) and write the name of someone famous on each. The game is played with you putting a sticker on each player's back (or their forehad, if they are up for it). That player then tries to guess who they are by only asking yes/no questions of the other players (for example, "Am I male?" "Am I a politician?" "Am I Bill Clinton?").

Lots of people can play this, and they can all play it at once, with players taking it in turns to ask questions. Each time someone is successful, they come to you for another sticker.

If you are playing this competitively, the person who guesses the most is the winner.

It is easy to theme this game by choosing 1950's movie stars, or characters from The Lord of the Rings, for example.

Chinese Mimes

Chinese Mimes is a more energetic version of Chinese whispers. It can be played as a team, or just for fun.

In Chinese whispers, the players line up all facing away from player #1. Player #1 then taps player #2 on the shoulder, and player #2 turns around. Player #1 mimes out an action to player #2. When they are finished, player #2 taps player #3 on the shoulder, and then mimes out the actions. And so the mime carries on down the line until at the end the last player as to try and figure out what the action was.

If you are playing in teams, the first players in each team should agree to do the same mime.

The mimes should be slightly off-beat. For example: Filling a steam iron with water, trying on a wedding dress, carrying out the safety instructions on an aeroplane...

As I hope you can see, you can drop these games into almost any party - so let your hair down, play a game and have a laugh!

About The Author

Steve Hatherley

enjoys murder mystery parties as well as regular party games, and has created a website devoted to them (http://www.great-murder-mystery-games.com). He is also a founding partner of Freeform Games LLP (http://www.freeform-murder-mystery-games.com).

steve@flar.demon.co.uk

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



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6:41 PM |

Sunday, October 23, 2005

How to Choose a Dog for Children. How to Use a Blog to Dramatically Improve Your Web Business!.

Since having a dog is such a common thing, do you really need to know anything more than how much it costs?

Well, how did you choose your car, or your home? Did you consider the cost, safety and suitability for your family? Of course you did. If you heard stories of a particular car that was susceptible to causing accidents or that a neighborhood was known for its rough occupants you would find something that was safer.

If the car or home was too expensive to maintain, it would impact your decision, as would the size of the vehicle or how many bedrooms the house had.

However, many people bring home a dog that they have spent no more time in choosing than selecting oranges at the grocery store. Although we hear stories of dogs attacking children and perhaps know of people who got rid of dogs after they grew too large for the apartment or destroyed property, as a group, parents still choose to bring dogs into their families with little instruction or research.

The truth is, most families with a dog will never deal with the terrible situations we hear about on the news. Dogs love people. Most dogs love children. Children and adults love dogs and it is very doubtful that after thousands of years the connection between canine and humankind will be broken.

What does need to be considered is how to make the best possible environment for your children and dog so that you don't need to worry about unexpected tragedy or the sad disappointment of giving your children's pet away.

There are many experts with various views, but several points can be generally agreed upon when choosing a dog for your family.

Find a dog that is good with children.

Don't all dogs love children? The answer is simple - NO. Some breeds, and even individuals within a breed, are more or less tolerant of children and the rough handling that usually ensues. Selecting a breed that enjoys the rambunctious atmosphere of a family home will go far in ensuring that the children have a willing playmate and the dog is happy.

Choose a dog that is the right size or energy level.

Do you live in an apartment? Do you have a large, fenced yard? Considering the size of home or yard you have should influence your choice of dog. Some breeds are naturally larger than others. Some smaller breeds (like Jack Russell Terriers) are small but have an enormous amount of energy that can be difficult to control in a small home.

Decide on a trained or untrained dog.

Perhaps you plan to train the dog yourself.

You may choose a puppy so the children participate in the training process. But how much do you know about training dogs? Are you ready for the hassles of housebreaking and obedience training? Perhaps selecting an older, trained dog might suit your family better.

The decisions you make before bringing your dog home and selecting the best dog breed for children will help your family enjoy their new pet for a very long time.

Shannon Emmanuel is a freelance writer and the author of 'How to Select the Best Dog or Puppy for Your Children'.

Find out more about safely raising a family dog at http://www.best-dog-breed-for-children.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



A blog is an online journal in which the author publishes his or her thoughts and opinions on a subject which interests them. A good blog will be updated frequently with new points of interest which the blogger (author) and readers can discuss.

Recently, blogs have appeared all over the internet. Thousands are being created every day on every subject imaginable. Everyone has interests and so you can always guarantee that other people will have the same interests as you. If you start a blog on something you are interested in you can be sure that thousands of people will be interested in what you have to say. Having thousands of people reading and following the content in your blog has enormous potential. Here are some great ways in which you can use blogs to your advantage.

1. A blog is a great way to promote your web business. Your blog should be about the same subject as your web business because this way you can easily promote the products and services that you are trying to sell. Due to the fact that you can guarantee your readers will be interested in the product you are offering, it looks like you are doing them a favour and not just blatantly advertising to them. A blog is also great for keeping your customers and prospects updated on new products or deals available.

2. A blog is an unbeatable way to build yourself a great web presence. One of the main reasons why visitors will not buy from you on the internet is because they fear that you are not trustworthy. However, if you have a blog which is updated regularly with high quality comments that show you know a lot about what you are selling, this will build your credibility immediately. Visitors will see the amount of time and effort you put into your blog and will think it very unlikely that you are going to cheat them. Boosting your credibility using a blog will skyrocket your sales.

3. A blog will help you build better relationships with your prospects and with your existing customers. Capturing prospects' email addresses is made very easy with a blog. To build a good relationship with your readers, follow up with them privately on comments that they make. For example you could say that you found a comment they made particularly interesting and then give an intelligent, knowledgeable response. They will feel particularly good about themselves that you have sent them a personal email response and this will encourage them greatly to purchase a product that you are recommending or promoting.

4. A blog is an excellent way to boost your search engine rankings. Many websites receive over 80% of their traffic from search engines and so this is a major advantage. Search engines love blogs because they are frequently updated with fresh content. Due to this, new blogs are often indexed a lot more quickly than new sites. A good blog, full of interesting, quality content can reach the top Google and Yahoo positions very quickly. If your blog has links to your website within it, then you can guarantee that this will boost your website's search engine ranking as well.

5. Blogs in themselves can be a great source of income. Google Adsense is a great way to make money quickly because Google's technology makes the ads that appear to be relevant to your blog's content. You can guarantee that your readers will be interested in what appears in Google's ad boxes. Every time someone clicks on a Google ad you get paid! Affiliate sales are another way to make easy money with blogs. Just promote someone else's product subtly within a comment and you could earn up to 75% of the sale. Making money through an affiliate program is extremely easy and my strong recommendation is http://www.clickbank.com.

Most importantly, make sure your blog is based upon something that really interests you. Blogs can be very time consuming but so long as what you are writing about interests you, then you will find blogging a very enjoyable experience.

For more information on this subject or about making money online go to http://www.info-ebooks.co.uk

100s of free ebooks and software products are also available at this address. Gain free access to these by sending a blank email to:

infoebooks@freeautobot.com

Thank you for reading

William Johnston
(will@info-ebooks.co.uk)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



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11:50 AM |

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Why Your Online Advertising Needs To Be Targeted. To Tell If You Are A Literary Snob.

Many new comers to the Internet business believe that the degree to their success is related to the level of traffic they can bring to their sites.

There is truth in this sentiment, but it must be molded by the actual experience of doing business online.

Bringing visitors to a web site is necessary to producing sales.

After all, it is these visitors who will be transacting business with the site.

Every business owner would agree that the higher the number of potential customers who interact with his business, the higher the number of sales will be.

But it is in this statement that an important Internet truth is touched on.

The number of visitors to a site is only beneficial according to the need of these visitors for the site's offerings.

Interested visitors will respond to a site's offering, while visitors who have no affinity for the site's offering will simply move on.

Website owners need to ensure that the traffic that they are receiving is comprised of individuals who have an interest in the market segment being covered.

Targeted advertising comes into play here.

For a site to be successful it must attract targeted traffic. The visitors that see the site must have an expressed interest in the products and services being offered.

Most spam emails are simply deleted because the recipient has no affinity to the product or service being offered.

On the other hand, medical ads that appear in online medical trade journals have a very high response rate because visitors have a clear interest in the medical field.

Effective online advertising is based on matching the ad, or site, to people who are already interested in the products and services being offered.

From a mathematical point of view, it is easier to produce sales from targeted traffic than from generic visitors.

Let's assume that 1 out of 100 overweight people will buy a diet book today. If they see your ad, you have a chance of capturing 1 sale per every 100 visitors you receive from this market segment.

Now let's say that in a random group of 100 people 30 will be overweight.

So you need 330 generic visitors to attract 100 overweight visitors.

This means that you need over three times as much generic traffic to gain a sale than from targeted traffic.

It is for this reason that successful online businesses use targeted traffic in their campaigns.

The only exception to this rule is when you can bring in an overwhelming amount of traffic without breaking your budget.

An exception using the above example would be when you can bring in those 330 random visitors for less than the cost of bringing in those 100 targeted visitors.

You would actually need more than 330 random visitors to make room for the odds of there being less than 30% overweight visitors arriving to your site.

Donny Lowy has set up http://www.billionfreeads.com to show entrepreneurs how to advertise for free.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



"I don't know if I should put 'writer' on my business card," I murmured.

"Then don't," my wife said in her infinite wisdom. "Put 'author' on it."

"But if I put 'author' on, none of those big companies with overflowing coffers will want to hire me as a writer," I said, wondering if George Bush needed a speechwriter or if General Motors wanted someone to write the owner's manual for next year's Oldsmobile.

"Fine. Put 'writer' on your card then, and all those fancy people you give it to will know you can write for them."

"But writer looks so small," I pointed out. "I also want Fortune 500 companies to hire me as a speaker, and nobody important hires a writer to speak. They hire authors."

"OK, why don't you put both?" she offered.

"Ho, right. That'll impress them. A writer who can't even write his own business card with duplicating his redundancies," I said. "I might as well shoot myself with my own sword."

In the end, I put "author", figuring I would get most writing jobs over the Internet, but when I speak live I would have to hand out cards to lots of people. An author's autograph would make those people giddy as strawberry Jell-O on the Amtrak Express. Those same people would search nervously for a graceful retreat from the company of a mere writer.

What is it about being an author.? You can author an article or a report or just about anything. And you can be the author of just about anything (including "your own misfortunes"). But you can't be "an author - period" unless you've published a book.

Big warning: writing a book does not count. I have a friend who wrote a book. That makes him a writer, not an author. When he publishes it, only THEN will he be a real author and only THEN will he be entitled to learn the authors' secret handshake. Don't try sneaking into the clubhouse on the scant pretext that your wrote a book. Anybody can write a book. Even a writer. You have to publish the book to get through these gates of glory.

But if my friend does publish, and he does become an author, and he does learn the secret hand shake, then he'll be ready to cross that threshold of pride when a reader he's never met before tells him, "I just couldn't put your book down."

Well, not quite. In fact, his book is about humorous anecdotes from many years in his particular profession. Hmm. That wouldn't qualify him as an author, even if he publishes. It would put him in that blurry purgatory between "writer" "and" "author" in the company of so many silver medal winners who almost made it and whose names we almost remember .

Why? Because he doesn't qualify for that crucial qualifying praise, "I just couldn't put your book down." That comment is reserved for novels, "serious" non-fiction like biographies and history, and how-to books on topics that require wads of glue. Other lowly books just don't count.

But what if a lowly book could attract an " I just couldn't put your book down?" Would that make the writer an author, or would the author remain just a writer?

My book is a self-help book. Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness. Self-help books are certainly not considered second-class books by the literary elite. They wouldn't even let self-help books into fourth class. In other words, mine is not a title any self-respecting New York Times book reviewer would allow to qualify for "I just couldn't put your book down."

At least, not in theory. But several people have said exactly that. (Too bad they said it to me and not to the New York Times.)

One lady even apologized for not calling me back one morning because she had stayed up into the wee hours of the morning reading my book. Now that's the kind of feedback that makes an author smile. What the heck, that kind of feedback would make even a writer smile.

Call me a writer. Call me an author. I couldn't care less. As long as you tell me "I just couldn't put your book down," I'm happy as a pig in ... uh ... Jell-O.

About The Author

David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, author ...No, make that writer. No, wait. Yes, he's an author. But he's also a writer. And a book reviewer. And a speaker. This article is an excerpt from the popular ebook Musings, written by a dozen prominent authors. Pick up your free copy at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/ happiness-self-actualization-products.html. Or sign up for your free "Daily Dose of Happiness" at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html

amabaie@phastnet.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



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Thursday, October 20, 2005

Fertilizers - What you Need to Feed Your Lawn. Liberalization of in-Domains?.

Just like humans need food, water and shelter to survive, lawns depend on certain elements to live, sixteen to be exact. Most of these elements are already found naturally in the environment, but several others need to be added to your lawn. Adding fertilizer with these three elements, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, does the job.

Before you run out to the store to purchase a complete fertilizer, or, one that contains all three, it is important to understand why your lawn's livelihood depends on it.

Nitrogen- This is possibly the most important element your lawn needs. It makes the grass grow and gives it its green color. It will also allow for more density, thick shoots, and sturdy growth, thus creating an environment that will naturally fight off pests and bugs.

Potassium- Since you can't toss bananas in your yard, your best bet for this mineral is to use fertilizer! Potassium enhances your lawn's ability to resist disease, drought, wear and cold weather.

Phosphorus- This is used to encourage strong grass root growth.

Most fertilizers you will find in your local home and garden stores will contain all three of these elements. However, there are different amounts of each. This is reflected in a three-digit number, such as 30-10-10, which tells the percentage of each in this order: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These blends will serve different purposes. For instance, more potassium in blends are good for winterization. The factors you need to consider are grass type, climate, time of season and soil type. Once you know what your needs are, you will be able to determine the right combination of these elements. An additional way to scan your needs is determine the current levels of these nutrients in your soil. This can be done through a simple pH test.

In addition to variation in percentages of the key elements, there are also different types of fertilizers to consider. There are four major options that will greet you in the fertilizer aisle: Granular (slow and fast-release), Liquid, Synthetic and Organic.

Granular fertilizers are perhaps the most popular, probably due to their ease in use and duration. Since these are dry, they are much easier to spread. Granular fertilizers can come in a slow time-release formula, which provides fertilization over two to six months.

This is an efficient choice for homeowners, as it will not need another application for months to come. Granular is also available in fast-release, and although applied in the same manner, the nutrients are released quicker and work better in cold weather. This method also costs less. However, grass burn can occur and there will be a greater need for watering.

Liquid fertilizers are just as the name says- in liquid form. These are applied by attaching a hose and nozzle to a spray bottle. The contents of the bottle are usually in concentrated form, thus the need to mix with the water. If you can use a hose, this is an easy method, more so than spreading granular around the yard. Also, since this a liquid, nutrients are available immediately to the roots of your vegetation. Herbicides can also be added or applied during this treatment. But, since the results are immediate, applications will have to be repeated more often than granular, and since liquid is more expensive to begin with, it can be more costly.

Synthetic fertilizers are usually manufactured chemically, hence being called synthetic. These engineered fertilizers offer immediate release of nutrients, and make lawns green.They simply penetrate the soil quicker. However, they are not natural, and many argue that lawns should be treated naturally. Applications of synthetic fertilizer needs to be redone more often, as results don't last as long. They can also burn your lawn if not applied in a proper manner.

Finally, organic fertilizers are made from once living organisms and their bi-products. These are applied to the lawn by spreaders, rakes and even by hand. Since this a totally natural fertilizer, the organics tend to break down slow when releasing nitrogen. They will improve the texture and density of your lawn, especially when added to soil or lakebed sand. There are some drawbacks however, including a foul smell in the case of manures. Also, these soils tend to have more nitrogen than other elements.

In summary, when choosing a fertilizer, you need to consider many things: The current nutrition of your lawn, how much money you want to spend, how much labor you want to invest in application- initial and repeats, as well as personal preference. But with the spurt in technology, choices keep growing as more combinations are being introduced.

For hundreds of other tips for creating your own perfect lawn, be sure to visit: http://www.YourPerfectLawn.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran has -as Hindustan Times reports-some advice for Indian patriots: use in-domains for Websites and e-mail IDs to popularise Indian identity in the world.

With India emerging as a global "labor" for IT, Indian companies should change the domain names of their Websites and e-mail IDs to in-domains, just like other countries.

"In every part of the world, the practice has been to use the short form of the respective countries at the end of the domain names by companies and individuals," the minister said during his first speech as IT Minister.

"During my trips abroad, I have always noticed that people have their e-mail IDs with the initials of their country in the end. For instance, in Britain, the Websites or e-mail IDs have at the end .co.uk, in Singapore it is .co.sg, in Japan it is .jp, in Hong Kong it is .hk and even in Pakistan they have .co.pk. But in India, we are still reluctant to use .co.in or .in. Why this hesitation?", Dayanidhi Maran has asked in an interview.

Therefore the minister has been urging upon Indian captains of industry, heads of organisations and individuals to switch over to use in-domains in order to indicate that their website or e-mail ID originates from India.

"I have made this appeal to representatives of the IT industry here, which is considered the IT capital of India. Once the tech industry migrates to this new identity, it will set a trend for the rest to follow in letter and spirit. They need to change the domain names of their companies or organisations by registering their Websites or mail IDs only once for identifying themselves with their motherland," Maran says.

"Though we are not making it mandatory, we are coming out with a number of schemes for Indian companies or organisations to make this transition soon. The ministry will shortly come out with an action plan to enable a smooth migration to either .co.in or .in," the IT minister explains.

The Indian IT-minister seems to be aware, that it is very bureaucratic in the moment to register in-domains. Indian companies need a lot of paperwork in order to get a domain at co.in , .in itself is reserved for Indian providers, not open to all Indian companies. "Foreign companies", explains Hans-Peter Oswald, the CEO of ICANN Registrar Secura (https://www.domainregistry.de/in-domain.html), ,,can only register the own name at .gen.in."

About The Author

Hans Peter Oswald
CEO
ICANN accredited Registrar Secura


https://www.domainregistry.de/in-domain.html, https://www.domainregistry.de/in-domain.html; secura@domainregistry.de

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/



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